Centre Sets 2030 As Target For Becoming A Global Hub For Green Shipping

The Centre will begin the process of converting all of India's tugboats into green tugs in order to decrease transportation carbon emissions and establish India as a global hub for green shipping by 2030, Sarbananda Sonowal said.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sonowal also inaugurated the Green Tug Transition Programme on Wednesday.

Green Hybrid Tugs, powered by green hybrid propulsion systems, will be introduced under the new strategy. Eventually, non-fossil fuel alternatives such as methanol, ammonia and hydrogen will be used.

“The ministry has set a goal of having the first Green Tugs operational in all major ports by 2025. By 2030, at least half of all tugs are likely to be converted to green tugs, significantly reducing emissions as the country moves toward sustainable development,” the shipping ministry said.

India is the first country chosen under the International Maritime Organisation's Green Voyage 2050 initiative to perform a green shipping pilot project. According to the government, Paradip Port, Deendayal Port and VO Chidambaram Port have been designated as hydrogen hubs capable of handling, storing and producing green hydrogen by 2030.

In addition, the minister dedicated India's first Centre of Excellence in Green Port and Shipping (NCoEGPS), which was established in cooperation with The Energy and Resources Institute. It was established to help India fulfil its obligations under the Paris Agreement by creating a framework and alternative technology adoption framework for green shipping in the nation.

The NCoEGPS will work on ten critical initiatives, including the creation of a regulatory structure for wind energy use in marine applications and the identification of a suitable biofuel for blending with conventional marine fuels.

According to the minister, the green shipping centre will also work on finding a fuel cell technology for long-distance shipping, as well as a regulatory framework for hydrogen transportation, as India seeks to become an exporter of green hydrogen.

The Centre is also developing a strategy to find an offshore platform for harnessing solar energy, producing, storing, and utilizing green hydrogen.